This British documentary is more than an analysis of John Lennon's song "Imagine" and its ramifications for the world we live in, it's a tentative documentary on John (and Yoko)'s art and songs' influence on a lot of people in all parts of the world and from all walks of life. As such, it should be better known and considered part of the Beatles "canon". The footage shows everything from a John Lennon Museum in Japan to a John Lennon elementary school in Liverpool to his influence on the thinking of a former Communist from Georgia (of the former USSR). It is provocative and very well made with a serious contribution from Yoko.
Direction
Baker connects global dots without flattening local specifics.
Production
Yoko's involvement gives archival access no other doc has.
Writing
Treats 'Imagine' as political philosophy, not just a nice tune.
Director
Frederick Baker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was the first feature-length documentary Yoko Ono officially participated in since John's death, and she reportedly fought Baker on including certain archival footage.
The film quietly argues that 'Imagine' succeeded as propaganda precisely because Lennon denied it was political—absolving listeners of responsibility while radicalizing them anyway.
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